Page 7 Advertisements Column 2

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 202, 21 May 1920, Page 7

The "New Zealand Herald" has the following :—The Grand Jury engaged at the Supreme Court on Monday and Tuesday made a recommendation regarding flogging; for certain offences. On tho conclusion of its duties on Tuesday tho foreman, addressing the 13encb, said:— "The Grand Jury desires me to suggest respectfully that in view of the large number. of offences of a sexual "nature against young children, you tako into consideration the advisability of sentencing offenders to the lash." His Honour: "I can't say beforehand what I shall or can do in a case. That recommendation has been mado to me on several occasions by grand jflries in Auckland, and at least once in -Wellington. It is a matter which has to be considered, but it will be found that most Judges are very loth to sentence offenders to the lash, for ono reason lest it should ho resented and load to hasty acquittals. I will tako your recommendation into consideration, but you must remember my responsibilities." On tho subject of the efficacy of tho "cat," tho Common Sergeant (Mr. H. P. Dickens, K.C.), who has twico ordered its administration, to prisoners convicted of robbery and violenoe, made a striking declaration at the Old Bailey, in London, last month: "It is not for the purpose of reforming a man that you five him the 'cat,'" ho observod, "lie is generally a brute. You don't give it him unless ho is in that category. There aro cases, luckily, where you can diminish crime by treating first offenders in such a way as to reform them; but in many eases you cannot rot'orm, and, therefore, it is essential that, you should doter others, When a man is a callous, cruel brute,' you cannot bo said to be brutalisins because yon flog him in order to prevent other brutes' from attacking and robbing law-abiding members of the community, That it is a deterrent I liavo no doubt. It was found to be the caso' wl\en garrotting was put down, and such a deterrent to verv much needed in these days. I don't think anybody wiio 'has anything to do with tho administration of justice would, dismije thtefor,a moment." ' ' I Tf the estimated total of ' J31,000,000,' stated to have been recovered from the wreck of F.M.S. Laurentie, sunk in Lough Swilly in February, 1017, is correct, it represents by far the biggesi thing ever accomplished in the way of the recovery «£. .